National Geographic Adventure - February 2003

The Top 25 Greatest Adventures in the
World

A Rapid Every Mile

Author Norman Maclean once wrote that a river 'has so many things
to say that it is hard to know what it says to each of us.' Whatever
the message, one of the surest ways to hear it is to live in the wild
presence of a river for at least a few days. O.A.R.S. runs six-day
trips down Idaho's Middle
Fork of the Salmon, which tumbles through a hundred rapids in a
hundred miles. Water levels permitting, the group put in at
5,740-foot Boundary Creek and plunges a heart-stopping 41 feet a mile
during the first 25 miles, then surfs and spins through dense
forests, grassy meadows, and imposing canyons until the take-out at
the Main Salmon.

WHY THIS TRIP: Instead of rushing down the river,
this outfit allows plenty of time for hiking, exploring caves, and
basking in hot springs.